Album Notes

Jay Howlett is an award winning singer/songwriter with a powerful baritone voice and zeal for storytelling. Independent Songwriter Magazine says "Jay's voice carries a profound wisdom and depth that flow out of every breath, every syllable." An accomplished performer with a degree in theatre, Jay writes simple honest songs about life in and around America and the experiences that bring us together and tear us apart. Troubadours still exist on the "new folk" scene and this award winning songwriter is one of them.

"American Ghost Town" (Featuring the West Coast Songwriters Association Song of the year "Debt of Honor".) is the newest release from Jay Howlett. Also on this CD are songs that got him into the finals of the prestigious Kerrville New Folk competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival and songs that placed him in the finals of songwriter competitions for the Sisters Folk Festival in Oregon (twice), The South Florida Folk Festival and the Founders Folk and Bluegrass Festival in Utah.

Joining Jay is a large cast of players including:

Joe Craven -- Fiddle and Mandolin (Joe has played and/or recorded with Jerry Garcia, Stephan Grapelli, Ramblin Jack Elliott, The Persuasions, Psychograss, Darol Anger, Rob Ickes, Tony Furtado, Ken Nordine, Mumbo Gumbo and many more.)

Jimmy Dewrance -- Harmonica (Jimmy is has a great blues title on Cdbaby.

Myron Dove -- Bass Guitar and Fretless Bass Guitar (Myron has been playing and recording with Santana, Steve Winwood, James Ingram Patty Austin, The Artist, Stevie Wonder, Isaac Hayes, Boz Scaggs, Vince Gill, Clint Black, Bruce Hornsby, Amy Grant, Herbie Hancock and many others.

Pete Grant -- Dobro (Playing and recording with the likes of Rodney Crowell, Herb Pedersen, Hoyt Axton, Tim Hardin, Guy Clark, The Dillards, The Persuasions, The Incredible String Band and Robin Williamson and his Merry Band.

Keith Greeninger -- Vocals (Two CDBaby Titles)

Jay Howlett -- Guitar, lead and Background Vocals

Steve Kritzer -- Vocals (Four CDBaby Titles)

Bob Malone -- Piano and Accordion (Six CDBaby Titles)

Megan McLaughlin -- Vocals (Two CDBaby Titles)

Chuck McCabe -- Vocals and Banjo (Two CDBaby Titles)

Karen Nash -- Vocals (Three CDBaby Titles)

Rolfe Wyer -- Vocals, High String Guitar, Electric Guitar and Bass.

Perhaps Jean Bartlett in the Pacifica Tribune (3/24/01) said it best after a live performance of the American Troubadours with Dave Nachmanoff, Keith Greeninger and Bob Malone. "Now I could talk about Jay Howlett's easy way with the guitar. The way his fingers just plunk out a rhythm like a tugboat winding 'round that old Mississippi. Or the way he maneuvers the breadth of a chord by the use of multiple, hole-punched capos. But it's that voice of his that stands out most, and those words he writes and sings so well. With the clear phrasing of Johnny Cash and a voice reminiscent of Gordon Lightfoot, Howlett's song serenade is a poet's journey on a ride you wish would know no end; nor has it since I bought his CD."

Jay Plays Breedlove Guitars and uses Elixir String by Gore.